Is Living In Costa Rica Expensive?
Moving to another country can be an incredible experience, but before you rent an apartment, book a flight, and start job hunting it is important to know a little about what it costs to live there. In Costa Rica, the cost of living is less than in countries like the U.S. or Canada, and significantly less than in areas of western Europe.
To give you an idea of what it costs to live in Costa Rica, we’ve created this simple guide comparing average living costs around the world. For the sake of consistency, we are using the U.S. dollar as the standard currency.
Housing & Utilities
If you want to live in the capital city of Costa Rica, San José, you’ll spend around $570 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment. If you are only visiting for a few days or weeks, hotel rooms start at $20-$30 per night, with prices maxing out at around $200 per night for nicer accommodations.
Food
Ready to chow down on local Costa Rican delicacies? Here’s what it’ll cost to eat on your trip to Costa Rica:
| Costa Rica | USA | Canada | Mexico | France | |
| Milk (1 gal.) | $5.22 | $3.25 | $6.50 | $3.78 | $4.53 |
| Bread | $1.35 | $2.48 | $2.14 | $1.43 | $0.43 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.44 | $2.31 | $2.82 | $1.55 | $3.62 |
| Bottled Water | $1.99 | $1.81 | $1.74 | $0.77 | $0.91 |
| Domestic Beer | $1.80 | $2.42 | $2.48 | $1.08 | $7.25 |
| Latté | $2.48 | $4.28 | $3.44 | $2.20 | $3.00 |
| Inexpensive Meal | $7.08 | $15.00 | $14.51 | $4.98 | $9.66 |
| Mid-Tier Meal for 2 | $40.68 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $24.92 | $120 |
Entertainment
For people living in Costa Rica, there are plenty of inexpensive (and often free) entertainment options to occupy your time. A beautiful country known for its natural beauty and lush rainforests, nature lovers can enjoy the endless sights and sounds of native Costa Rican plants and wildlife. When not enjoying the outdoors, Costa Rican residents can enjoy affordable trips to the movies (at just $6 per ticket), pay a visit to their favorite street vendor or restaurant, or visit one of the many shops where items start at around $10-$40.
